Chapter 21
Late at night, in the hushed forest.
Cold tombstones stood in silence, like the dead themselves.
Amid them, a towering temple rose high — its grandeur illuminated faintly by the pale moonlight.
It was certainly a chilling and eerie place, perfectly fitting for a graveyard at midnight.
But I wasn’t scared.
Because I was nestled safely in the warm arms of the Duke.
I secretly hoped the journey would take longer, but before I knew it, we had already arrived before the great black door.
“Wait.”
After setting me down, the Duke began tearing through one barrier after another — just like that day.
Under the moonlight, the sword dance was so breathtakingly beautiful that I couldn’t help but admire it.
“So cool…! No wonder Lady Diana couldn’t help but fall for him. Totally understandable.”
At that, the divine beast gave me a disapproving look, his eyes indifferent and sharp.
[What on earth happened between that cold guy and you in the past? Did he save your life or something?]
“Yup. Too many times to count.”
Every single moment of my life, actually.
The reason I could live with conviction and dignity… was all thanks to my regret toward him.
Lord Juno snorted softly. Then, when the door finally opened, he was the first to dart inside.
As the divine beast entered the tomb, blue flames flickered to life along the torches, revealing everything around us.
I took in all the sights I hadn’t seen before and walked toward a stone coffin that looked the most recently built.
Then, I set down the flowerpot I had brought.
Unfortunately, since there was no moonlight inside the tomb, the flower didn’t dance.
Maybe that was why…
Even after a long while of silent prayer, nothing happened.
What’s going on? Did I bring the wrong one? I was sure this was the only flower that could stimulate a soul…
Just as my anxiety began to rise, a sudden chill — sharp and suffocating — swept over me.
It felt as if someone had stuffed a snowball under my clothes in the middle of winter.
Startled, I looked back and forth between Lord Juno and the Duke — but both seemed completely unfazed.
And then, a low, chilling voice whispered right next to my ear.
[Are you… my granddaughter?]
* * *
G-g-g—!
A ghost!!
I had plenty of experience with tombs — I was even once a grave robber in my previous life — and I’d heard the voice of the first head of the house before.
But this was the first time I’d actually seen a ghost!
“Kyaaa— h-hmph!”
[No! What are you going to tell the 21st successor if you scream like that!]
“What’s wrong?”
When the Duke turned around, I quickly regained my senses and pointed hastily at Lord Juno.
“U-ugh! Th-the divine beast suddenly put his foot in my mouth!”
“……”
The Duke gave Lord Juno a frigid glare, then turned back and resumed his silent prayer.
The wrongly accused beast trembled all over and glared daggers at me.
[You little… rat dropping…!]
But now wasn’t the time to argue — talking to the translucent man before me was far more important.
Lord Juno, however, turned his head away dramatically and tattled.
[Ha! You see that, 20th successor? Look at how your descendant treats me! I’m treated like trash in my own house— Oh wait, that’s right, you were kidnapped before you could raise him, huh?]
What the— how dare he talk about such a tragic past like that!
I shot Lord Juno a warning glare.
But the ghost didn’t seem hurt at all — instead, he smiled faintly.
[Haha. It’s fine. What weight could the words of a pitiful beast possibly have?]
“…Wow. Pitiful. That stung even for me.”
[Pitiful? What’s wrong with how I look! Why do all my descendants treat their ancestor like this? It’s me! The First Head! The founding patriarch!]
While Lord Juno huffed in indignation, the ghost turned back to me.
[Sorry to startle you. Let me ask again — are you my granddaughter?]
No! I’m just the fake daughter!
Afraid the Duke might notice something, I quickly shook my head, barely daring to breathe.
[But you came here with the First Head himself. And judging by the aura of this tomb clinging to that beast’s body, your identity seems clear enough…]
[Ha! You figured it out, and that’s how you phrased it?!]
Having awakened as a spirit himself, the ghost must’ve instantly recognized the small beast as the original patriarch.
Ignoring Lord Juno’s furious glare, the ghost looked gently back at me.
There was something in his eyes — something understanding. I wanted to explain everything, but I couldn’t, not with the Duke listening. All I could do was furrow my brows helplessly.
Then, he smiled softly.
[I see. You must have your reasons. There are many things in this world that words can’t explain.]
He could’ve asked the First Head directly, but he chose not to.
The reason was clear — his gaze said it all.
He was quietly watching the back of the man kneeling before his tomb.
[If he’s here with my granddaughter, who else could she be?]
It must’ve been his first time seeing his grown son — and yet, he recognized him at once.
At that thought, my tense body finally relaxed a little.
Even a brief look told me everything — his calm voice and dignified manner matched perfectly with the records that described his gentle nature.
Without taking his eyes off his son, the ghost spoke.
[Child, the flower you brought — its scholarly name is Spero Rideat Nocte.]
Yes! That’s right! I brought the right one!
I nodded eagerly, and beside me, the First Head chimed in proudly.
[It’s from the ancient tongue — means “may it smile at night.”]
[Indeed, First Head.]
[Why name it that, though? It doesn’t seem to have any special traits besides resilience and movement.]
The ghost paused, lost briefly in his memories, then gave a wistful smile.
[That child… was quite a crybaby.]
[The 21st successor?]
[Yes. A rather fussy one. As an infant, if it wasn’t in my wife’s or my arms, it would cry all day long. No matter how much we tried to entertain it — never once smiled. Haha…]
His tone was gentle, so much so that both the First Head and I found ourselves listening intently.
[During the day, my wife watched the baby. At night, I took over from my office. One night, after finally getting it to sleep, I stayed up working when I heard a noise from the crib. My heart stopped. Do you know why?]
Both of us tilted our heads in confusion. He chuckled.
[It was laughter. The baby was laughing — at that flower. It smiled for the first time because of it.]
Though he was smiling, his gaze toward the flower and the Duke carried deep nostalgia.
As moonlight streamed through the open door and the flower began to dance, I could almost hear the faint laughter of a baby.
A high noble personally caring for a child was rare enough — and after the kidnapping, how much guilt must the couple have carried?
I didn’t know the full story, but judging by his soft smile, he had long since found peace with it.
Then, Lord Juno asked curiously,
[So that’s why he took part of its name, huh?]
Huh?
His words sparked a realization — I suddenly remembered the Duke’s full name: Dane Sphenox Everhart.
When I’d read the family records, I’d noticed that Sphenox hadn’t been his birth name.
A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over me.
Spero Rideat Nocte.
“May it smile at night.”
His parents had embedded those words — their hope that their child would always smile, even when apart — into his name.
Even though it wasn’t my story, I felt my nose sting.
I wanted to tell him right away, but it wasn’t something that could be said lightly.
Still, I wanted him to know — at least, the heart of his parents.
Especially now, with his ancestor watching.
“…Dad!”
“You’re late. Shall we go?”
“N-no! That’s not it — do you know the flower’s name?”
“I don’t. If you’re curious, ask the maid in charge of my office.”
“No! I know! Lord Waldorf told me! It’s the same as your middle name, Duke!”
“……”
His gaze lowered, thoughtful and heavy.
After a long silence, he murmured,
“…Sphenox. I see.”
The wrinkled face of the ghost watching his son tensed faintly — almost in nervous anticipation.
Then, the Duke bowed once more toward the tomb and whispered,
“I never understood how much you waited for me. Please… do not forgive my foolishness.”
At his quiet words, the ghost’s eyes slowly closed.
I couldn’t begin to imagine his emotions, but even I felt a pang at hearing his son’s first words to him be an apology.
The Duke was always stoic — even if his father were alive, his words probably wouldn’t have changed much.
But then, his next words made the ghost’s translucent eyes widen.
“I’ll see you again next time… Father.”
[……!]
The Duke didn’t know.
He only knew that his father had named that flower and kept it in his study — that he’d never forgotten his son.
But he didn’t need to know everything.
Because that single word — Father — filled the old ghost’s face with indescribable emotion.
As if suppressing the surge of feelings, he closed his eyes tightly, then stepped forward to his son’s back and whispered softly.
[……How long I’ve longed to hear that. Thank you — for protecting my wife, and for coming home. My son.]
The ghost’s form began to fade.
It was a farewell filled with pure joy — the joy of a father welcoming his child home.
…Come to think of it, I called him “Dad” too, I thought, smiling faintly.
But unlike me, their bond was real.
So the First Head and I could only watch in silence — as father and son faced their long-overdue reunion under the gentle moonlight.
🥲